Expert: Brenda Martin - 1/2/2012

Question
QUESTION: Hello I recently left a Christian church there was so hypocritical and very judgmental Christians and I was gossip about I need help then when I home I answered the door the missionaries came to my house and invited them in I really got into there beliefs everything made scence like they believe lord Jesus is our savior I never been to the lds church but is the lds church the right church? I dislike when my former church and old pastor always picked on and said stay away from them always and put them down and critizing the Mormons saying that they are way off the bible and scripture is this true? Cause I am really burned out from a Christian church I don't know what my grandparents religion was but there is some Mormons in my family. So what I am asking should I join the lds Mormon church? or find a different church please help me I am really confused.

ANSWER: Hi Selina, you asked--"should I join the lds Mormon church? or find a different church please help me I am really confused."

We want our worship to God to be acceptable to him dont we, or we would be wasting our time & energy, is what the Mormons teach "acceptable to God?" answer is no, here are are few reasons why--

1. God says not to "kill", they go to war.

2. God is "not partial", Mormons dont allow black people to teach in their churches.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself--

How can a person know which religion is right?

(1) On what are its teachings based? Are they from God, or are they largely from men? (2 Tim. 3:16; Mark 7:7) Ask, for example: Where does the Bible teach that God is a Trinity? Where does it say that the human soul is immortal?

(2) Consider whether it is making known the name of God. Jesus said in prayer to God: “I have made your name manifest to the men you gave me out of the world.” (John 17:6) He declared: “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.” (Matt. 4:10) Has your religion taught you that ‘it is Jehovah you must worship’? Have you come to know the Person identified by that name—his purposes, his activities, his qualities—so that you feel you can confidently draw close to him?

(3) Is true faith in Jesus Christ being demonstrated? This involves appreciation of the value of the sacrifice of Jesus’ human life and of his position today as heavenly King. (John 3:36; Ps. 2:6-8) Such appreciation is shown by obeying Jesus—sharing personally and zealously in the work that he assigned to his followers. True religion has such faith that is accompanied by works.—Jas. 2:26.

(4) Is it largely ritualistic, a formality, or is it a way of life? God strongly disapproves of religion that is merely a formalism. (Isa. 1:15-17) True religion upholds the Bible’s standard of morality and clean speech instead of weakly going along with popular trends. (1 Cor. 5:9-13; Eph. 5:3-5) Its members reflect the fruits of God’s spirit in their lives. (Gal. 5:22, 23) So, those who adhere to true worship can be identified because they sincerely endeavor to apply Bible standards in their lives not only at their places of meeting but in their family life, at their secular work, in school, and in recreation.

(5) Do its members truly love one another? Jesus said: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:35) Such love reaches across racial, social, and national boundaries, drawing people together in genuine brotherhood. So strong is this love that it sets them apart as being truly different. When the nations go to war, who have enough love for their Christian brothers in other lands that they refuse to take up arms and kill them? That is what early Christians did.

(6) Is it truly separate from the world? Jesus said that his true followers would be “no part of the world.” (John 15:19) To worship God in a manner that he approves requires that we keep ourselves “without spot from the world.” (Jas. 1:27) Can that be said of those whose clergy and other members are involved in politics, or whose lives are largely built around materialistic and fleshly desires?—1 John 2:15-17.

(7) Are its members active witnesses concerning God’s Kingdom? Jesus foretold: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14) What religion is really proclaiming God’s Kingdom as the hope of mankind instead of encouraging people to look to human rulership to solve their problems? Has your religion equipped you to share in this activity, and to do it from house to house as Jesus taught his apostles to do?—Matt. 10:7, 11-13; Acts 5:42; 20:20.

There is only ONE true religion, ONE acceptable way to serve God & the Mormons are not that religion.

If you want to learn about the bible & become part of that one true faith, go to www.watchtower.org & "request someone call" or speak to any one of Jehovah's Witnesses, including myself :¬)

all the best
Brenda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Brenda I respect ur religion I just disagree with some of what u believe I believe in afterlife when we pass we have a soul a spirit we go to heaven or hell u religion believes after this life u believe the souls die I don't believe that and the Mormons believe that to the souls go to heaven that's how I was bought up and I need more advice what u think about the Christian and Mormon churches again I respect ur religion I just agree with everything u taught I don't judge people what ever they believe that's there opinion there choice what they believe again thank u for ur advice write me when u have chance take care and best wishes from Selina.

Answer
Hi Selina, I appreciate your thoughts, but will you agree that theres only ever ONE truth an ANY matter, for example, either this page is white or its not, likewise either there is an "afterlife" or theres not, either we have an immortal soul or we dont, either we go to heaven when we die, or we dont, both notions cannot be correct.

The only reliable place to find the correct answer is God's word the bible, what it teaches is simple; man was created A SOUL, when man dies every part of him dies,the hope for the dead is a resurrection back to life in God's new EARTH. (John 5.28,29) Psalms 37;10,11)

I appriecate these thoughts are different from what you were brought up to believe,I was exactly the same, being brought up a Protestant I too belived in heaven, hell & immortal soul, but after I studied the bible I learned these are not BIBLE teachings.

Is it important to you that what you believe is in God's word the bible?

all the best
Brenda